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The 403-450 MHz antennas can be trimmed for GMRS but it would be very easy to trim a bit too much ruining the antenna.

Check the packaging on LED and CF bulbs for FCC certification. This helps ensure the emissions are low and will not cause undue interference. You'll pay a few pennies more, but it's worth it in an RF rich environment.

Tim, Good question but the answer isn't easy as there are more things to consider besides wattage. The key piece to distance is the antenna. Figure your antenna radiates in a pattern that could be described as a beachball with the top and bottom squished. Add gain to the antenna and the beachball just gets flatter and bigger around in the middle. The second piece to your antenna is height, The higher it's mounted on your vehicle, the better as height means the horizon is now further away. Your signal doesn't bend to follow the earth, it reaches the horizon and keeps going straight out. More power just means more signal is reaching the horizon and going off into the ether. Your 15 watts will travel less distance than say 20, 25 or even 50W but once it hits the horizon the extra power doesn't do anything. The other thing your antenna does is listen to incoming signals, so again height is important as the area covered is a larger diameter. Here, wattage becomes a factor. Signals lose strength the further they travel so a stronger signal as in higher wattage means you can be further apart. Receiving is dependent on the radio itself and its sensitivity. A HT can receive a lot further than it can transmit so I could hear somebody but not be able to talk because my signal isn't strong enough at their receiver. To sum up, a good balance for a mobile rig is the 15 to 25W radio. It will transmit a good signal to the horizon and comfortably reach most of the stations it receives.

Probably not but I'll bet that shark fin has at least 3 antennas and more likely 4. (AM/FM, Satellite, Phone and GPS)

Often rules set in one section are referenced in other sections and included by that reference,

You'll always be liable for Federal tax on SS, most states exempt it from state tax.

Welcome to the group. You will find a lot of information regarding your radios and their programming.

Coax is easy to find and most of the sites selling radio gear are competitive. Places like The Antenna Farm, DXEngineering, Gigaparts, Ham Radio Outlet and many others are all on the 'net. All you have to do is press a few buttons and shopwith the coax being delivered in a few days.

1. Load C 2. Connect programming cable 3. Start CPS program 4. Turn radio on 5. Set program so it connects to radio. 6. Read factory settings from radio 7. SAVE FACTORY CONFIGURATION 8. Create new code plug 9. Write to radio. 10. Turn radio off 11. Unplug programming cable 12. Enjoy

Buried within CFR 47 are several statements stating it is permissible to use any frequency when there is an immediate danger that would or could result in the loss of life. I don't recall the exact section but I know the exemption is in part 90 and other parts. A few years ago (more like 10) an amateur operator was fined for contacting a public safety agency and reporting an emergency. That was acceptable but, what was not was he stayed on the frequency and continued to transmit after being told to leave.

The Commission has stated if Life, Health or property is in immediate danger one may use any frequency to summon aid. They have also ruled in the past that once the aid is summoned the emergency use exemption has been met and further transmissions are not allowed unless authorization is specifically granted by the responding agency. Once you contact an agency and relay the situation, the emergency is over as far as you are concerned and further transmissions are in violation of Commission rules.

I would put an RF choke (Ferrite ring) around the power cable between the T connector and the radio. Amazon.com : ferrite chokes

BINGO! You got it. As it is a treaty it has to go through the Congress Critters in the Senate who will do everything in their power to politicize it.

Good question. In the Part 90 world a fixed station is primarily used for data transmissions between two points. Fixed stations are usually used for automatic reporting of fluid levels in storage tanks, river levels and the like. They are primarily one way transmissions but they can also be two way such as the control station sending a command to open a valve or flip a switch.

For the price they're asking for it, plus freight to Alaska you may be better off with a Kubota or Deere tractor. The tractor would be more versatile than the single use dozer.

IIRC, international traffic is specifically mentioned in the rules as being permitted but there is no mention of domestic traffic between services. I have a feeling the FCC would frown on it and the ham is subject to contact by a volunteer monitor about questionable operation.

The only Part 97 transmissions allowed with no identified receiving station are CW and test messages.

The Enforcement Bureau is more focused on protecting the commercial users such as FM radio and cellular providers than individuals. They do go after major importers of equipment but not as aggressive as they used to.

If you get the 706 there is no pressing need for the 2730 as the 706 does 2M and 70CM.

There are several sites that provide reviews of units that can be used for a base station. Within your budget there are 2 that cover your needs from Icom. The IC-7100 is a mobile/base covering all bands but doesn't have the waterfall display. The Icom 706 MK IIG is available on the used market again, no waterfall but both are solid 100W units. You can get an SDR radio for fairly cheap that will throw up a waterfall display using a software program downloaded from the net. For my 2M/70cm work I use the ID-5100A and a hot spot for D-Star. Probably one of the best sources for an unbiased review is the ARRL. You may want to consider joining them for their wealth of information available. The other trusted(?) sources would be the ham equipment dealers such as Ham Radio Outlet, DX Engineering, Gigaparts and others. They will, of course, be biased to their new equipment lines but can definitely offer good advice on power supplies and antennas along with other accessories you'll end up needing.

Michael, Kindly show the world where there is an approved device that covers both the GMRS and CB frequencies and not a unit that covers frequencies outside those two bands.

Yes Michael, there are units that do cover those frequencies but Mr. KIA, the OP was asking as a person not licensed to operate that type of unit and specifically for a unit to cover just the GMRS and CB bands which there isn't a unit. So, quit being an idiot and address the question being asked in the frame it was asked. And further, the Yaesu doesn't operate on the GMRS or CB frequencies without illegal modification so the answer is STILL there isn't a unit that combines those particular frequencies.

GMRS is short range, line-of-sight communications but has a higher power output than CB. GMRS is also FM where CB is AM so the messages are much clearer. GMRS is able to use repeaters that improve the range and can be connected to form networks. Because the frequencies for CB are around 27 MHz and GMRS is in the 460 MHz area the two can't be combined into a single unit.

Before you do any more to the antenna, CALCULATE what the length should be. There are several sites you can use that will provide an answer in either millimeters or inches. The adage measure twice, cut once always helps. The loading coil if used adds an even amount like a 1/4 or 1/2 wave so you need to be able to calculate the length of the stinger above the coil. The length is measured from where it comes out of the holder to the tip, not the physical length of the stinger so it needs to be a little longer than the calculated length.

A used Part 90 repeater is a better investment. Units from Motorola, GE, or others are proven, solid units. Amateur units from Kenwood, Icom or Yeasu are also good candidates. The key piece for a repeater is the antenna. It needs both height above ground and gain. Gain increases the effective radiated power and improves reception. Gain is reported in either dBi or dBd. Dbi is imaginary while dBd is real gain as you subtract 2.1 from the dBi figure to obtain the real power increase of dBd for an antenna. Repeater life is measured by the duty cycle which is the amount of time the repeater is in use. Low cost units have a duty cycle or time spent actually on-air of about 20% or working about 12 minutes per hour. Part 90 units and amateur units will start with a 50% duty cycle and go up to a 100% duty cycle which means constant use.